Fastest White Man in History

Christophe Lemaitre made history at the French championships in Valence by becoming the first white man to run the 100 metres in under 10 seconds.

Lemaitre, 20, the former European junior record holder, also broke the French national record on his way to victory in 9.98 seconds.

'What I wanted was the first place. The time was more of a long-term goal,' said Lemaitre.

'It's good to have done it before the European Championships.'

Lemaitre takes over the title as the fastest white man from Poland's Marian Woronin, who held the European record during the 1980s - missing out on the holy grail when he ran 10 seconds exactly. Britain's Alan Wells ran 10.11.